“Ensuring Safety in Medicine: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 on Drug Adulteration and Mislabeling
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, from July 1, 2024, enhances protection against drug adulteration and misbranding to maintain medicinal safety in India. Adulterating drugs with intent to cause harm under Section 274 carries a maximum of 7 years’ imprisonment, while selling misbranded or spurious drugs under Section 275 is dealt with similarly. Substituting provisions of the Indian Penal Code, these sections aim at acts endangering public health with a focus on deterrence by imposing severe punishment. The BNS is aligned with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, augmenting accountability within the pharmaceutical industry and safeguarding consumers against dangerous medical products.